The achievements of University of Kentucky's students and faculty have been recognized by professional organizations and funding agencies on the national and international level, some of which you can read about in our Features page. Our faculty are funded from numerous sources including the National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, National Aeronautics and Space Agency, Office of Naval Research, National Institutes of Health, American Cancer Society, Kentucky Science and Engineering Foundation, American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund, Human Frontiers Science Program, and others.

Entering students take standardized proficiency exams in analytical, biological, inorganic, organic, and physical chemistry. The scores on these exams are used by the Graduate Program Committee to help new students accelerate the course-work component of their Ph.D. program.

Entering students demonstrating proficiency in these areas are only required to complete 18 credit hours of graded coursework, which may be completed in the first year. During this time, Ph.D. candidates also take cumulative exams, of which the student must pass four of 16 exams administered during the first 2 years of study. Having completed the course work and cumulative exam requirements, the candidate undergoes an oral qualifying exam in which he or she answers questions posed by his or her special advisory committee usually relating to the student's initial research plan. After that, the path is clear to the Ph.D. degree, and additional time in graduate school is simply a function of research success.